The disclosure provides processes for temperature and pressure controlled cryopreservation of samples by using isochoric systems.

The disclosure provides processes for temperature and pressure controlled cryopreservation of samples by using isochoric systems.

The straw comprises a tube (11) and a gas-permeable liquid-tight stopper (12), which stopper is disposed in the tube closer to one end (16) of the tube than another end (17) of the tube, which tube and which stopper are configured for the stopper to be able to slide in the tube towards the other end (17), said tube being transparent or translucent, said stopper comprising an identifier component (13) configured to emit, when it is illuminated with ultraviolet light, light of which the spectrum comprises at least one peak having a crest of predetermined wavelength in visible light, whereas when it is illuminated by visible light said identifier component does not emit said light of which the spectrum comprises said peak.

The straw comprises a tube (11) and a gas-permeable liquid-tight stopper (12), which stopper is disposed in the tube closer to one end (16) of the tube than another end (17) of the tube, which tube and which stopper are configured for the stopper to be able to slide in the tube towards the other end (17), said tube being transparent or translucent, said stopper comprising an identifier component (13) configured to emit, when it is illuminated with ultraviolet light, light of which the spectrum comprises at least one peak having a crest of predetermined wavelength in visible light, whereas when it is illuminated by visible light said identifier component does not emit said light of which the spectrum comprises said peak.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) possess tremendous potential for tissue regeneration and banking hiPSCs by cryopreservation for their ready availability is crucial to their widespread use. However, contemporary methods for hiPSC cryopreservation are associated with both limited cell survival and high concentration of toxic cryoprotectants and/or serum. The latter may cause spontaneous differentiation and introduce xenogeneic factors, which may compromise the quality of hiPSCs. Here, sand from nature is discovered to be capable of seeding ice above 10 C., which enables cryopreservation of hiPSCs with no serum, minimized cryoprotectant, and high cell survival. Furthermore, the cryopreserved hiPSCs retain high pluripotency and functions judged by the pluripotency marker expression, cell cycle analysis, and capability of differentiation into the three germ layers. This unique sand-mediated cryopreservation method may greatly facilitate the convenient and ready availability of high-quality hiPSCs and probably many other types of cells/tissues for the emerging cell-based translational medicine.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) possess tremendous potential for tissue regeneration and banking hiPSCs by cryopreservation for their ready availability is crucial to their widespread use. However, contemporary methods for hiPSC cryopreservation are associated with both limited cell survival and high concentration of toxic cryoprotectants and/or serum. The latter may cause spontaneous differentiation and introduce xenogeneic factors, which may compromise the quality of hiPSCs. Here, sand from nature is discovered to be capable of seeding ice above 10 C., which enables cryopreservation of hiPSCs with no serum, minimized cryoprotectant, and high cell survival. Furthermore, the cryopreserved hiPSCs retain high pluripotency and functions judged by the pluripotency marker expression, cell cycle analysis, and capability of differentiation into the three germ layers. This unique sand-mediated cryopreservation method may greatly facilitate the convenient and ready availability of high-quality hiPSCs and probably many other types of cells/tissues for the emerging cell-based translational medicine.

Disclosed herein are cryostorage devices, systems, and methods for cryopreservation or vitrification of biological materials, such as oocytes and embryos. These cryostorage devices can include a capillary straw with the dual functionality for loading/unloading a sample. The devices can also include a self-sealing mechanism and an adapter for coupling with pipettes to enable loading of a predetermined volume of sample. The devices can also include a removable cap to protect the capillary during long-term cryostorage. Methods described herein relate to the manual or automated use of such devices.

Disclosed herein are cryostorage devices, systems, and methods for cryopreservation or vitrification of biological materials, such as oocytes and embryos. These cryostorage devices can include a capillary straw with the dual functionality for loading/unloading a sample. The devices can also include a self-sealing mechanism and an adapter for coupling with pipettes to enable loading of a predetermined volume of sample. The devices can also include a removable cap to protect the capillary during long-term cryostorage. Methods described herein relate to the manual or automated use of such devices.

A cryoprotective device protects an aqueous biological material from mechanical damage due to ice formation during cryogenic freezing and/or cryostorage by preventing direct contact of the biological material with cell-damaging large ice crystals, the cryoprotective storage device having a housing with an internal cavity. The housing is configured to receive a freezable medium with the biological material within the internal cavity. The housing includes a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane is impermeable to ice crystals that are larger than an average pore size of the membrane to prevent such ice crystals from passing into the internal cavity from outside the housing, such that ice crystals formed in the medium within the housing have a smaller crystal size from ice crystals formed in the medium outside of the housing. As such, the biological material is protected from mechanical damage generated by direct contact with large ice crystals.

A cryoprotective device protects an aqueous biological material from mechanical damage due to ice formation during cryogenic freezing and/or cryostorage by preventing direct contact of the biological material with cell-damaging large ice crystals, the cryoprotective storage device having a housing with an internal cavity. The housing is configured to receive a freezable medium with the biological material within the internal cavity. The housing includes a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane is impermeable to ice crystals that are larger than an average pore size of the membrane to prevent such ice crystals from passing into the internal cavity from outside the housing, such that ice crystals formed in the medium within the housing have a smaller crystal size from ice crystals formed in the medium outside of the housing. As such, the biological material is protected from mechanical damage generated by direct contact with large ice crystals.